The threat of a massive earthquake may not be something that most Californians spend day after day thinking about, but truthfully, it should be. The state is actually in the middle of an earthquake drought, and the segments that make up the expansive San Andreas Fault system are becoming stressed to the point where large and damaging events may occur any day now. For perspective, the devastating earthquake that occurred last year near the border of Iran and Iraq, as well as the quake that struck central Mexico, were a magnitude 7.3 and a magnitude 7.1, respectively. Both of these are within the range of earthquake sizes that may occur in highly populated parts of California sometime during the next few decades. (Related: A massive earthquake is forming under New York City – and it could be unleashed without notice.)

Even though scientists and researchers are constantly looking for new ways to minimize the effects of earthquakes, the sheer chaos and destruction that would result from a magnitude 7 quake striking California cannot be ignored. Homes and office buildings would be completely destroyed. Debris would be littered throughout the streets, making travel nearly impossible. Access to food, clean water and electricity would likely be cut off, forcing people to fight for their own survival in any way they can. It would be an utter tragedy, and if what many geologists say is true, then this tragedy may confront the people of California sooner rather than later. (Related: Scientists are now warning that a massive earthquake is on the horizon for California.)

That being said, it is important that residents of the Golden State take precautions to ensure that, when a massive earthquake does strike California, they will be able to survive. Last year, ThePrepared.compublished an article with some great advice regarding how to prepare for and survive an earthquake – this is information that all Americans should pay attention to.

Reduce dangerous things that may fall during an earthquake

You don’t want to let gravity get the best of you. Powerful earthquakes can knock over everything from pictures hanging on the wall, to television sets, to shelves and bookcases. As such, it’s a good idea to bolt these items to the walls, and to try to make a point of placing heavier objects on lower shelves so that they don’t fall on top of you. It’s also advised that you install latches on your cabinets so that you don’t have to worry about glass and knives falling out of place.

Take annual pictures of your possessions

This is something that many people probably don’t consider, but if your valuable possessions are destroyed after an earthquake, then you’re going to want a way to remind yourself of everything you need to replace. As ThePrepared.com notes, “Having evidence of the things that need to be replaced makes the process of insurance claims much easier. Imagine being an insurance claims adjuster after an earthquake – you’d wonder if the people claiming their $3,000 TV was destroyed even owned that TV in the first place.”

Find a safe place to store your supplies

Every serious prepper knows how important it is to stock up on basic emergency preparedness supplies, but where exactly should you store these supplies until you need to use them? It’s a good idea to put your supplies in a safe place that is low to the ground, but also easy to access. An ideal spot might be in the garage underneath a sturdy workbench, or inside of a closet near your exit door. It’s important to have all of the right supplies, but if you don’t store them correctly and they get destroyed in an earthquake, then all of that prepping was for nothing.